Specifications:The NEW Sigma 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM is the only one of its kind. This is the first ultra wide zoom lens with a minimum focal length of 8mm, designed specifically for APS-C size image sensors. It has an equivalent angle of view of a 12-24mm lens when used on digital camera with an APS-C size image sensor. Sigma’s new FLD glass elements, which have the performance equal to fluorite glass, compensate for color aberration. One hybrid aspherical lens and two glass mold elements give excellent correction for distortion and astigmatism. An inner focusing system produces high definition images throughout the entire zoom range and the Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting while superior peripheral brightness ensures high contrast images throughout the entire zoom range. HSM ensures quiet and high speed AF as well as full-time manual focus capability. It has a minimum focusing distance of 9.4 inches throughout the entire zoom range which allows photographers to emphasize the subject by creating exaggerated perspectives. This lens has a compact construction with an overall length of 4.2 inches and a maximum diameter of 2.9 inches and is perfect for shooting landscape photography, architecture, building interiors, photojournalism, wedding photography, group pictures and more. New from Sigma, the pioneer of ultra wide-angle lenses.

This lens is a joy to use. I have taken some great photos with it. I have it's big brother, the 12-24 V2 and it is easily as good as that, if not better, but on a Canon crop it is equivalent to 13-26, not 12-24.

I still don't understand why people on this forum give poor ratings to what is obviously a faulty lens. I have found Sigma products to be, for the most part, reliable and of good quality. So often one reads in these esteemed fora something like "my copy was a bad one and didn't focus properly so I rate it 4 and I'll never buy Sigma again". One strike and you're out? Do Canon or Nikon never sell a faulty product? I know from experience they do, so why the down on Sigma? I don't get it. If you have a bad copy get it repaired or replaced and then rate it.

I love this lens for landscapes, architecture and at shows/exhibitions where you can use the close focussing and wide angle to isolate exhibits as they are often packed closely together.

The exposed front element doesn't bother me. If it did, I wouldn't have bought the lens. It is just part of the design. I have never hankered after a filter when using this lens, I think it performs brilliantly.

Apr 17, 2014

darwinphotoOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Feb 12, 2008Location: United StatesPosts: 184

Review Date: Dec 29, 2012

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9

Pros:

Close focus, flare resistance, sharpness

Cons:

Exposed front element, terrible lens cap

After using the Canon 10-22, Tokina 11-16, 12-24 and Sigma 8-16, the latter became my favorite UWA lens for crop (and 1.3x) bodies.

The Sigma focuses closer than the Tokinas and resists flare better. 8mm is Crazy Wide and provides lots of fine. My copy was sharp across the field and at all focal lengths.

Even after selling my APS-C body I still kept the lens and used it on my 1D and 5D. It was that good.

The only drawback was that front element. Forget about using any ND filters and you're gonna struggle with the lens cap. That is a bummer. They should instead have a cap that attaches like a lens hood with a twist lock motion.

Dec 29, 2012

HrowOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Oct 18, 2004Location: United StatesPosts: 5332

Review Date: Sep 23, 2011

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $699.00
| Rating: 4

Pros:

Has the potential to be very sharp, great fun to play with

Cons:

Lower left corner a developed serious focus issue

Let me start by saying that the lens was an absolute hoot to play with and had it been reasonably sharp across the frame it would still live in my bag. Unfortunately, it started to develop a problem where by the lower left corner of the frame turned to mush at 8 mm.

If you get a good one, I think this lens has lots of potential. It is very sharp in the center and the edges are decent (except as noted above). Distortion is very well controlled as was flare. If you use the lens properly it has the potential to take very unique images.

The exposed front lens element is more of a concern than I originally thought. It requires that one be really carefully when carrying the lens - you need to remember you have that lens on your camera while walking around and that is not as easy as it seems or perhaps I am just getting more forgetful.

Build quality appears to be very good but, if it was, then I wouldn't have had a focus issue so it gets a low rating in that regard.

Like any ultra-wide, you need to use this lens properly for best results and even though I had problems, I would not discount this lens as having the potential to be a really nice addition to one's lens collection. Just buy it from a place that has a good return policy and test it properly to make sure it is good across the frame.

Sep 23, 2011

ronotimyOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: May 25, 2004Location: United StatesPosts: 0

Review Date: Dec 15, 2010

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10

Pros:

Restores the fun in creating unique photographs. Saves money, no need to buy expensive filters. Physically the lens feels solid as a rock, none of that loose fitting, noisy, plastic crap lenses that is floating around.

Cons:

No way to protect front element from environment.

Each lens is like a key. Turn the key with your imagination and magical images are created and captured. Some keys break when turned, but not this one. The quality of the construction inspires the photographer by delivering confidence that their photographs will only be limited by their imagination and not the optics or mechanical attributes of the lens itself. This focal range opens the doors to a world not seen by the eye, hence reveals a magical and often overlooked world around us. As with any professional lens there is a learning curve to master, but trust me this lens makes it a fun journey and a rewarding one too. For me this lens brings out the inner child by allowing me to see once again the world around me in a new and interesting perspective.

Dec 15, 2010

LarrySHOfflineImage Upload: Off

Registered: Dec 6, 2010Location: United StatesPosts: 0

Review Date: Dec 6, 2010

Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $699.00
| Rating: 10

Pros:

Incredibly wide yet good rectilinear perspective with great sharpness across the entire frame combined with outstanding color, contrast, and a remarkable lack of CA

Cons:

Cannot use filters; shooting takes some care to really get the best use of this lens (keeping it level for architectural shots, not getting too close for faces, etc.)

This lens is really in a class by itself. I have previously owned extremely good UWA lenses from Tokina and Canon, and this new Sigma just absolutely blows them away.

Apart from covering an amazing field of view, and allowing some photos which I have never been able to take before, the sheer quality of the images and the lack of chromatic aberration are amazing compared to the other very expensive highest quality UWAs I previously owned.

This lens can be used in a very creative and off-beat way to make some very dramatic photos, or can be used in the way I normally use it to ma e sweeping panoramas, large group shots, and indoor shots where you just can't take another step back.

I have made gorgeous shots of small indoor spaces where no other lens could allow the field of view in such a short distance from the subject. I can walk in a small room, closet, bathroom, elevator, etc. and take in the whole scene and beyond, impossible with an 11-16 or 12-24 Tokina or other lenses I have tried.

This was bought as a landscape lens to be used on a Nikon D200. I also looked at a Tokina 11-16 and Sigma 10-20. The 8-16 won out on colour and sharpness. Despite reading all the favourable reports I didn't like the Tokina that much. The Sigma 10-20 was OK.
The AF on the 8-16 is fast and accurate, (despite what Ken Rockwell says in his review of the lens) and the build quality is very good. It is just a very easy lens to use. During the purchasing phase I took some test shots at 1/10th, F5.6, ISO 100 handheld indoors and got more than acceptable results. The level of distortion considering how wide this lens goes, is excellent.
I agree with the previous reviewer, Sigma have kicked a goal with this lens.

The only detraction so far is the very exposed front element. One has to take a little more care than usual.

I purchased this lens for a European trip for use on a Canon 7D. I was very pleased with the results I obtained. My copy is extremely sharp across the frame at all apertures and focal lengths. It is great fun to use due to its amazingly wide angle of view and it handles very well. Additionally, it auto focused accurately and quickly. The color and contrast are very nice and it handles flare quite well. Obviously, distortion is an issue with such wide angles but even this is relatively tame by 12mm. Also, Lightroom 3 does a very nice job with it's lens correction feature here. The only true negatives are the inability to use filters and one must be careful with the somewhat exposed front element.
I think Sigma hit a home run with this lens. There isn't anything like it for a crop sensor.